The Make it in the Emirates Forum ended on Wednesday with the signing of 32 agreements between government entities, industrial companies and finance institutions.
About 1,800 stakeholders from the industrial sector, investors and 24 leading companies participated in the two-day forum that was organised by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.
National companies committed Dh110 billion ($30bn) in potential purchasing agreements for existing and new partners.
The forum also included an exhibition highlighting opportunities and incentives across more than 11 priority sectors, and unveiled more than 300 products to be manufactured locally.
These products will contribute more than Dh6bn to the economy annually.
“The 32 agreements will diversify the industrial sector and enhance its sustainability, increasing the national industrial sector’s contribution to the UAE’s economic diversification,” the ministry said on Thursday.
Among the agreements, Adnoc signed pacts worth Dh21bn with local and international companies to purchase locally manufactured products.
Last year, the UAE launched Operation 300bn, an overarching strategy to position the country as an industrial centre by 2031.
The 10-year plan focuses on increasing the industrial sector's contribution to the country's gross domestic product to Dh300bn ($81.67bn) by 2031, from last year's Dh133bn.
The strategy focuses on boosting production in 11 priority sectors, supporting the growth of national industries, attracting foreign investment and ensuring availability of dedicated financing for local industrial companies.
The Make it in the Emirates forum also witnessed the unveiling of various incentives for manufacturers in the UAE.
They include financing up to 80 per cent of capital expenditure at low interest rates, with grace periods of two years and a repayment period of up to 15 years, as well as the reduction of industrial fees and service tariffs, efforts to introduce exports to new markets and the availing of funding via seven major finance institutions.
Added unveiled several programmes to support the industrial sector and enhance its competitiveness.
Some of the initiatives include the Abu Dhabi Local Content Programme and the Electric Tariff Incentive Programme.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
